Self-lubricating bearing.



G. 0. SIJMLEY.

SELF LUBRICATING BEARING.

APPLICATION FlLED 1uLY25. 1913.

L Pmned Sept, 14, 1915.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE O. SMALLEY, OF BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAPHITE LUBRICATING- COMPANY, 0F BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

SELF-LUBRICATING BEARING.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed July 25, 1913. Serial No. 781,129.

of Boundbrook, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Self- Lubricating Bearings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates to self lubricating bearings` that is, aV bearing which does not require the application of a lubricant but is so formed that a lubricating. material forms a part of the bearing structure and thus, from the inherent characteristics of the materials from which the bearing is made, it is constantly self lubricating.

The invention relates more particularly to the arrangement of the lubricant within the metal portion of the bearing box and as hereinafter defined is so disposed that a maximum of lubrication is provided for all parts of the structure without unduly weakening the metallic casing which holds it.

The object of the invention is to provide a bearing of the character defined in which a comparatively small rotary or oscillatory movement will carry the contained lubricant completely overl the metallic surface.L

A further object is to provide a series of grooves or holding recesses for the lubricant within the meta'l casing so disposed that studs of metal completely surrounded by a lubricant will be provided to sustain the Weight of the shaft or like part used in the bearing. A

Rererring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a core from which the bearing box is cast. Fig. 2 illustrates a central lsection through a bearing box. Fig. 3 illustrates a development of the interior grooves of the box.

all metallic parts of the bearing box. Obvi-l ously, in such devices, it is imperative to sustain Weight of the shaft as far as possible upon the solid metal of the bearing box and the device herein described is intended to provide studs of metal which will sustain the weight and will be so arranged with reference to each other that they are distributed in a definite manner throughout lthe interior of the bearing box through each stud or series ofstuds is isolated from the adjacent stud or series of studs by the lubricating material which completely surrounds the studs.

In Fig. 1, a core is illustrated to more clearly indicate the position and arrangement of' the grooves formed in the metal of the bearing lbox and the intermediate studs of metal which are completely surrounded by the grooves which grooves when filled with graphite provideI a. lubricant completely surrounding each of thestuds.

The core, as illustrated, has a central cylindrical portion 1 uponwvhich are formed a series of spiral threads 2 extending spirally and in parallelism in one direction around the core l and with a second series of threads 3 extending in the opposite direction around the core and of course, intersecting the threads 2. These, when the metal vis cast about the core, will form corresponding l grooves 1n the metal casing 4 as illustrated in Fig. 2, and between the threads there will remain metallic bosses or studs 5 each of which is completely surrounded by the gitudinally of the bearing provides a series of studs alternating with the inserted graphite and with the next line of studs projecting slightly within the line of 'each succeeding row or line of studs.

i With this arrangement of parts, it is apparent that a very slight rotary or oscillat`ory movement of the bearing orits shaft will cause a sufficient movement to traverse the inserted graphite portions and carry a film of graphite 'over the bearing studs 5. This is particularly advantageous in bearings used for springs land in fact, Wherever there is a comparatively short oscillatory movement rather than a full rotary movement of the shaft. Furthermore, the metalhe hearing surfaces are evenl7 dispersed and each bearing stud is completely surrounded by the lubricating material.

ln forming the bearing, the cores illustrated in Fig. 1 are first produced in any ordinary type ot' core box, having grooves corresponding to the raised threads 2 and 3 oi the core l. The metal is then cast providing a bearing box having grooves corresponding to the raised threads of the core. The tubular bearing box (itl it is a single piece bearing) is then packed with graphite compound which. under high pressure is forced into the grooves, the excess material being removed, leaving the grooves filled to they same"height as the bearing studs. The hearing is then vulcanized and the interior and exterior finished to size.

Obviously` the threading may be of the single. double. treble or quadruple type and may he of any desired pitch to meet the exigencies ot any particular requirement. irrespective ot' the pitch and character of thread. it is essential to the present invention that the threadingr run in opposite directions.' that is. that there be a series ot threads. say ot' right hand form and an intersecting series ot' lett-hand form. These intersecting threads providing intermediate metallic portions which are completely surrounded by the graphite tillin".

Obviously. the bearing may be ot' the splitl xaring Jr'orm o1' the tubular type and the threading may be of a size and form to best correspond to the size and form of the bearing. f

'hat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bearing having a shell provided with continuons lubricating grooves formed in parallel spiral threads ot coarse pitch from end to end ot' the bearing and with similarly formed continuous spiral threads of coarse pitch extending in an opposite direction from end to end otl the bearing, all of said threads located entirely within the metal of the shell and intersecting each other, and a lubricating material pressed into and tilling said grooves.

2. A bearing having a shell provided with two series of continuous right-hand spiral grooves ot' thread form ot' coarse pitch and a series of left-hand spiral grooves of thread form of coarse pitch. one ot' said series of grooves intersecting the other and providing intermediate metallic .bearing studs. all of said grooves terminating within the metal of the shell and each of said studs being completely surrounded by vthe intersectingr grooves and a compressed lubricating material filling said grooves.

3. A bearing provided with a right-hand spiral groove ot thread form ot' coarse. pitch and a left-hand spiral groove ot` thread form and ot' coarse pitch. the pitch of said grooves being the same. and said grooves all ter1ninating within the material of the shell` said grooves intersecting each other and providing intermediate the intersections bearing studs` said studs completely surrounded by the intersecting grooves and a compressed lubricating material filling said grooves.

i. A bearing having a shell provided with a series of bearing studs each completel7 surrounded by a compressed lubricating material and extending in a series of spiral lines ot thread form completely about the interior of the shell. the lines of compressed lubricating material surrounding said studs terminating within the bearing shell.

H. lVAImnN BoRCuERs, F. M. EvANs. 

